The Kerdi set is all about creating your ideal shower in the comfort of your home. Besides being an all-inclusive shower building package with numerous integrated components to choose from, Kerdi shower pan problems are issues worth thinking about before purchasing it.

The Kerdi niche’s central partition is what disappoints most customers. When you tile the divider, it becomes rather cumbersome and takes up a lot of the bathing area. If your house has a small restroom, experts propose replacing the partition with a glass panel.

In addition, the pan appears loose without a thin-set covering. At the exterior edge, the thin-set coating is roughly 3/4″ thick, tapering to almost nothing, done to bring it into line with the Ditra level.

This article takes a deep dive into Kerdi shower pan problems, how to install it, pros and cons, as well as frequently asked questions about them. Keep reading to find out more.

Kerdi Shower Pan Problems And Solutions

Here are the problems with a Kerdi shower pan and how to solve them:

1) Lack Of Weep Holes In The Drain

One problem with Kerdi shower pans is that water gets trapped between the granite and the waterproofing layer. Spot bonding causes cavities that trap a lot of water.

The grout will darken and never dry out, allowing mildew and mold to form. Kerdi is waterproof; therefore, there will be no water damage.

Nevertheless, standing water will be an issue.

To counteract this, TCNA recommends 100% coverage and advises you to ensure there are no voids in the thin-set. Heeding this advice could spare you the stress associated with water build-up.

2) Waterproofing With Thin-set

Using two layers of fleece and thin-set as your sealant or waterproofing will pull water up through capillary action. Water enters the low regions, allowing mold and mildew to develop and eventually causing the drywall to deteriorate.

The following should be the takeaways from the challenges addressed above:

When using sheet membrane in a Kerdi shower pan, complete coverage of thin-set underneath the tile is required to drain stagnant water;

Avoid submerging all the sheet membrane systems for extended periods,
The thin-set used to join the sheet membrane plays a significant role.
After scoring the full length of the shower pan, snap it along the cut line with consistent pressure.

Is It Possible To Plaster Over Kerdi Board?

If you tile only a portion of the Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD, cover it with a plaster or a sparkling compound.

Is It Possible To Remove Tile From Kerdi Membrane?

In the worst-case scenario, it is permissible to cut the Kerdi, extract the damaged portion, scoop up the thin-set from the regions, and replace the Kerdi. It’s a nuisance, but the setup won’t suffer in terms of performance.

Is The Kerdi Band Necessary?

The only extra step required because the matting boasts a waterproof polypropylene is to caulk the joints and floor/wall connectors. As a result, the structure is waterproof and will not hurt if a water leak occurs unexpectedly.

How Much Time Does Kerdi Have To Dry?

Experts suggest you wait for 24 hours following the installation of the membrane to enable the final set of the mortar and establish that the assembly is watertight at the connections and seams.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Kerdi Shower Pan?

Pros

Kerdi shower pan is easy to install.
It offers you versatility
It provides a robust and long-lasting foundation for your units

The shower pan includes a movable shelf that you may place wherever you like.
It prevents mold and mildew growth.

Cons

It is challenging to install a waterproof membrane.

Can You Cut A Kerdi Shower Pan To Size?

You may trim the shower pan to size using a utility knife. Note that since the tray is sloping, the perimeter will be narrower after cutting it. Ideally, trim the pan by the same proportion on all sides to maintain a uniform height.

FAQ on Kerdi Shower Pan Problems

1. Is Schluter Kerdi Worth It?

Schluter Kerdi is an excellent product. It takes a bit longer than the typical mud shower bed and waterproofing procedures, but it is well worth it.

2. Can You Tile Over KERDI Shower Pan?

KERDI features a bonded waterproofing membrane that enables direct placement of the tile using thin-set mortar, as opposed to shower pan liners in typical assembly.

3. What Happens If You Use A Modified Thin-set With KERDI?

Experts do not recommend the usage of Kerdi with modified thin-set mortars since the latter dries to build strength. The mortars have membranes that hinder drying and could cause unexpected outcomes; for instance, leaks and polymer degradation might occur if you use a shower before the mortar dries.

4. How Long Will A KERDI Shower Last?

Kerdi showers last at least fifty years.

5. Is KERDI Shower Pan Waterproof?

The shower system integrated a KERDI waterproofing and is tile-ready. There are twelve sizes to choose from, besides an off-center outlet for tub replacements and a neo-angle layout.

See also Can You Shower in a Clawfoot Tub

6. Is The KERDI Shower Pan Sloped?

Schluter ®-KERDI-SHOWER-T/-TS/-TT are prefab slanted shower trays featuring KERDI waterproofing that do not require a mortar bed.

7. Can Kerdi Board Be Used On The floor?

The material is ideal for establishing even substrates in floor remodeling projects, such as domestic bathroom installations built for foot traffic.

With a utility knife, you can cut Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD to size. The printed grid lines on the surface aid in a tidy and speedy installation.

8. Can You Modify KERDI Shower Pan?

You can modify the Kerdi shower pan. To guarantee a uniform height of the first phase of wall tile, trim the tray in equal proportions on all four sides.

However, minor variations may usually be compensated with thin-set mortar when installing the floor tile. You can also employ dry pack mortar to extend the shower base beyond the shower tray’s perimeter.

Schluter®-KERDI is used to waterproof the expanded tray regions.

9. Is KERDI-BOARD Double-sided?

Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD-ZDK is a two-sided sealing tape used to adhere to KERDI-BOARD tiles in joint areas or similar applications. The Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD-ZDK tape needs no extra maintenance and is fungi and mold-resistant.

Final Thoughts

The Kerdi shower pan is one of the top bathroom accessories. Their incredible design and performance can transform even the most mundane bathroom atmosphere into a vibrant one and thus making every shower experience enjoyable and thrilling.

However, Kerdi shower pan problems such as installing waterproofing membranes and gobbling up a great deal of showering area when tiled make homeowners shy away from it.